Lyndsay Lamb Shares An Inexpensive Item That Doubles As Both Fall And Winter Decor

Decorating for the holidays is one of the most exciting parts of the changing seasons, but it can get pricey. Between Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, keeping up with your trimmings might begin to feel more like a job than a hobby, which is why design expert Lyndsay Lamb from HGTV's "Unsellable Houses" has a genius way to stretch a budget-friendly item through two seasons. By incorporating pinecones into both her autumn and winter adornments, she avoids having to take down and buy new pieces, since pinecones are a neutral element. "Instead of adding snow or snowflakes to everything, I add pinecones and acorns!" Lamb explains in a Lamb & Co. article.

Between September and December, as the weather cools down and festive ideals fill the air, pinecones can be found wherever Conifer Trees grow, which spans numerous countries and continents. Because they are plentiful in autumn and winter, many people associate them with the holidays. They can often be found in home decorations, but Lamb's tip to use them for both seasons means you can turn them into a feature piece (or pieces) that can remain out until you're ready to shift into spring. 

A key reason why Lyndsay Lamb loves using pinecones is because of their versatility. She explains on Lamb & Co. that "these keep with the warm tones of fall, but you can easily transition them into your winter décor." Whether you lean into the whites and blues of the chilliest time of year or you prefer to play with traditional shades like oranges in fall and red and green around Christmas, pinecones can blend in to provide a stable backdrop that won't overpower your other decorations. You don't need to add anything to them either, since their appearance alone inspires thoughts of cheer and cozy tidings. Further, Lyndsay Lamb's DIY holiday decor tip can cost little to nothing, since you can find pinecones in your local parks, forests, or nature-heavy areas. Free is always more fun, but you can also purchase bundles of pinecones on Amazon or at Michael's for less than $15.

These earthy elements are eco-friendly, and they won't bring any toxic elements into your home when used to decorate. Once you finish using them, you can save them for the following year or return any unadorned cones back to nature (just avoid adding glitter, paint, or scents to any pinecones you plan to put back in the wild). Lamb also says that you can use a little rubbing alcohol on these seasonal items, which will keep bugs away while also looking festive!

Putting smaller pinecones in a vase before adding fake flowers is an easy and understated way to include them in your aesthetic, as is a pinecone seasonal wreath that sits on your front door or even your cabinets. For anyone who enjoys a little crafting, tying string on the bottoms of your pinecones gives you simple hanging ornaments for a tree, shelf, doorway, or any other space you see fit. You can also use cones on your mantle nestled among faux pine needles, garlands, or alternative fauna. Add them throughout your home on surfaces like shelves, dining room tables, and in bowls on coffee tables to pull the theme throughout the entire dwelling.

During the fall months, combine pinecones with pumpkins, gourds, dried flowers, and leaves or place them in baskets to bring out the autumn colors. Not only will they fit nicely with your oranges, reds, yellows, and greens, but they will add texture and dimension. When winter comes, you can trade out some of the fall tones for cooler hues of your choice, swapping out items without having to invest in all-new everything. For instance, Lyndsay Lamb says that she keeps her white and light green pumpkins out longer than her orange ones, per Lamb & Co. This season may also see more ornaments, glitter, ribbon, and pine branches. If you're hosting for Christmas, include pinecones in your tablescape like the "Unsellable Houses" stars did in the image above.